—Fed cattle prices rise ahead of holiday.
Cash fed cattle trade last week was slow to start, with feedlots and
packers working hard to outlast one another before coming to the table.
As of last Thursday, analysts were still expecting trade at prices $1
higher than the prior week at $93-94 live and $146-148 dressed. However,
as of mid-day last Thursday, feedlots were still passing on packer bids
and were as much as $2-3 apart. A rising cutout and the expectation that
next week’s holiday-shortened schedule ahead would add more strength to
the boxed beef market was adding to feeder’s optimism late last week.
Slaughter volume through last Thursday was estimated at 508,000 head, up
8,000 from the same period a week earlier, but below the 514,000 head
tally for the same period a year earlier.
Despite strong prices projected through the fourth quarter, there are a
number of questions surrounding how packers are going to be able to
continue to pay higher money for fed cattle without being able to boost
the Choice cutout, which has spent most of the summer in the low $140s.
“We are still facing a somewhat tight supply of fed cattle through the
rest of this year, but packer margins are pretty narrow right now,” said
Livestock Marketing Information Center Analyst Erica Rosa. “Our
projections show fed prices for the fourth quarter in the mid- to
high-$90s, but that’s strictly a result of the supply side. The demand
side is pretty uncertain right now. With the uncertainty in the U.S.
economy and lower priced competing proteins, you have to wonder whether
beef prices are getting to the point where we are priced out of the
market.”
There is a tight supply of fed cattle right now, although some analysts
have started to speculate that the supply is not as tight as previously
thought. With weights beginning to increase seasonally and a futures
premium for October fed cattle, feedlots may be slowing marketings,
easing the supply pinch somewhat to the packer’s advantage.
Rosa said there are a lot of unknowns in the market right now given the
continued good grazing conditions in much of the country, increased
heifer retention going forward this year, corn prices, the macroeconomic
situation in the U.S., and international trade.
“We have been receiving reports of producers holding heifers back in the
southern Plains,” she said, adding that heifer retention this year is
expected to be strong in many states where grazing conditions remain
quite good as a result of late season precipitation.
In terms of international trade, Canadian packers, which have been
struggling since the border reopened allowing shipments of live cattle
to the U.S., continue to close their doors. That has led to an increase
in the number of cattle being shipped to the U.S. for slaughter and an
increase in the amount of beef being exported to Canada, Rosa pointed
out. Exports to Mexico and other countries are also on the rise, which
is adding some support to cutout values. “But if you look at the middle
meats, they aren’t able to sustain the cutout,” she said. Middle meats,
which are typically consumed domestically, are a key to boosting cutout
values higher, however, U.S. consumers are passing them up in favor of
lower priced cuts, ground product and competing proteins.
“If you look at the restaurant trade, you’ll see an increase in the use
of some value cuts like the Flat Iron, mock tenders, skirt steak and
flank steak. Restaurants are responding to consumers who are facing an
uncertain U.S. economic picture,” Rosa said. “If you look at retail
features, you’ll see it there too. I recently saw an ad featuring
bratwurst, sausage and ground beef. There were no middle meats on the
front page at all.”
That lack of demand from the retail and consumer levels translates to a
cutout which, last week, was trading higher at $147.01 on the Choice
product and $140.49 on Select cuts, above year-ago levels of $145.28 on
the Choice and $135.39 on the Select. However, last Thursday’s movement
was light to moderate with only 130 loads of fabricated product and 54
loads of trim and grind selling ahead of one of the biggest grilling
holidays of the year. Most retailers had already secured their meat
needs for the weekend, however, it appeared that none were willing to
bet on the need for quick fill-in following the holiday.
The cow beef market continues to be the big winner in the cattle markets
as a result of consumer preference for lower priced cuts of beef and a
drop in cow slaughter compared to 2006 levels. Cow beef cutout values
last week were $13 higher than year-ago prices at $118.75, while the 50
percent lean traded at $48.44, $7 higher than the same day in 2006 and
the 90 percent lean moved higher to $147.94, compared to $130.56 last
year.
The opening of the Canadian border to animals born after March 1, 1999,
could certainly impact that market if, and when, USDA makes that move.
Some speculate it could come as early as October, however, most believe
November or December are more likely.
According to Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Analysts Len Steiner and Steve Meyer, there are perhaps as many as
600,000 head of cull cows in Canada that would meet the age criteria,
although it is unlikely that all of them have the proper documentation
required for export to the U.S. They also noted that it was unlikely
that there would be a huge pulse of cattle immediately after the border
opened, although they did note that possibility exists. In comments last
week, the two analysts pointed out that many of these cows are now bred
and will likely be retained in their Canadian herds until after calving.
Although there could be an initial pulse of cull cows coming in from
Canada, the market should remain strong well into the first quarter of
next year as U.S. herd building gets underway and cow slaughter drops.
That scenario could make feeding culls this winter an attractive
opportunity for some producers.
Feeder cattle
Feeder cattle remained firm again this week, with most regions of the
country having adequate moisture. Richard Stober of Superior Livestock
Auction talked about their video auction of Aug. 21-24.
“For these calves and yearlings, it seems like the market gets better
just about every time we have a sale,” he explained. “Most areas are
getting adequate moisture, but there are definitely some dry pockets
scattered about the west and the Plains,” said Stober.
Earlier in the summer, a number of cattle were being sold quickly in
large, drought-stricken areas of the Deep South, but Stober said that
isn’t the case any longer.
“There aren’t really any more fire-sale cattle coming from that area.
The south, for the most part, is still pretty dry, but in places like
Florida, they’ve been getting enough moisture to go ahead and carry some
of these calves out to their normal delivery dates,” Stober said.
Stober said demand was very good, with a large number of buyers looking
for yearlings.
“There were definitely a lot of yearlings selling quite well on good
demand and most of them were going to get delivered in the end of
September to first part of October. The lighter calves, in most cases,
were going to be delivered later in October and November, as there were
a fair number of buyers looking for calves to put out on wheat,” Stober
explained.
The Superior auction had a total offering of 161,000 head, 42 percent of
which were feeders over 600 lbs., and 64 percent of the feeder supply
being steers. Compared to the last sale, feeder steers and heifers were
firm to $3 higher, with calves in some places being $4 higher. Moisture
in the southern Plains continued to spur demand for lightweight calves
for winter grazing. Areas further west traded as much as $6 higher on
most classes of cattle, but the sale’s exception was for lightweight
calves in the northern areas, where most calves sold $3 lower.
Feeders in the north-central region sold at $123.37 on a 628 lb.
average, compared to $119.63 on a 621 lb. average in the western
regions. Some heavier 700-800 lb. steers sold for an average of $111.14
in the far western region where prices remain good, but buyers are
cautious of drought conditions in the Pacific states.
Derrell Peel, Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist for Oklahoma
State University, says there is still good reason for prices to remain
steady to higher for most feeder cattle.
“The economics from a stocker perspective still look pretty attractive,”
says Peel. “There has been tons of moisture in Oklahoma and parts of
Texas recently, and especially in Oklahoma, there look to be some good
opportunities for wheat pasture this fall, especially compared to last
year,” Peel explains.
“There are a lot of guys with plenty of grass, so that should keep
demand for winter grazing cattle strong no matter what, because even
though prospects look good, production issues could keep operators
waiting until later to decide what to do with their wheat,” says Peel.
Peel explained that a horrible wheat crop last year in many
winter-grazing areas of Oklahoma and parts of Texas will keep farmers
leery of putting too much on their plates this fall.
“The main reason stocking could be conservative in this area is because
producers will be more concerned with getting a good wheat crop in than
they will be about putting calves out to graze,” explained Peel. “I
think most guys will still graze if they are able to get the wheat
planted in time, but they may reduce stocking rates, or take heavier
cattle and put them out later. Most people will just wait a little
longer to make sure they’ve got good wheat before they throw a bunch of
calves out there,” Peel said.
In the cash markets, there was a total run of 4,020 head last week in El
Reno, OK, where feeder steers and heifers were mostly steady to firm
except for heifers over 700 lbs. Feeders in some instances were $2
higher, and 600-750 lb. thin, grazing-type steers were weak compared to
the previous sale’s extremely high market. Steer and heifer calves sold
steady on a light test. A large portion of the yearling offering was in
thin condition due to extremely wet pastures, which are slowly drying
out after significant rains in eastern Oklahoma.
Further north at the Bassett, NE, sale, 2,070 head were sold last week
and prices were fully steady on all classes of feeder cattle. A few
short strings of fall calves were mixed in with the yearlings, which
dominated the offerings. Nearly all cattle were over 600 lbs., and 52
percent of the feeders offered were steers. Eight weight feeders sold
for averages between $117.58 and $119.84, with average prices for 900
lb. yearlings falling in at $115.50.
Last Monday at the Stockland Livestock Auction, in Davenport, WA, 1,543
head sold, but not enough feeder cattle for accurate trend comparisons.
Feeder cattle trade was moderate to active and demand was moderate.
Feeders made up 63 percent of the run, and the supply included a 50/50
steer/heifer split. Nearly 52 percent of the run weighed over 600 lbs.
Eight-weight steers sold in the $101-102 range, but lighter steers and
heifers of 600 lbs. were only a $2-3 higher in most cases.
Receipts totaled 1,476 last week in Clovis, NM, and compared to the last
sale, feeder steers under 500 lbs. were $8-12 higher and steers over 500
lbs. were steady to $3 higher. Heifers sold mostly steady to $1-3
higher. Trade was active and demand good. Feeder cattle accounted for 75
percent, and steers made up approximately 62 percent of the run. Steers
and heifers over 600 lbs. totaled 64 percent. — WLJ

The grace period for Montana’s new horse testing rule has been extended
to Sept. 7.
The Montana Board of Livestock recently approved a new rule to require
all horses coming into Montana be tested for Equine Viral Arteritis
(EVA), a respiratory virus that also causes abortion in mares. The new
testing requirement was supposed to go into effect on Aug. 20.
“That’s just too soon,” says acting State Veterinarian Dr. Jeanne
Rankin. “Some of the tests are complicated and take a long time to run.”
Also, a stallion could test positive because he contracted the virus
naturally or has been vaccinated previously. If a horse tests positive
for EVA, further complex tests that identify the specific virus must be
run before the horse is allowed into Montana.
The complexity of the tests require specialized equipment, so
veterinarians must send samples to either the National Veterinary
Services Lab in Ames, IA, or the Colorado State University Veterinary
Diagnostic Lab in Fort Collins, CO.
EVA spreads through the air, infected semen, and through the placenta to
unborn foals. Often, stallions will not show symptoms of EVA, but still
transmit it to vulnerable mares.
Montana’s new order requires imported stallions to test negative for EVA
within 30 days before coming into the state. Or stallions can be
vaccinated for at least 28 days before coming to Montana if they test
negative for EVA within 10 days prior to the vaccination.
The new rule holds one exemption: Stallions that are brought to Montana
for exhibition only and then return to their home state are not required
to be tested for EVA.
EVA tests are not the only requirement for traveling horses. All horses
that are transported into or out of Montana also must have a brand
inspection, a certificate of veterinary inspection (a health
certificate) and a negative Equine Infectious Anemia test (a Coggins
test) within 12 months.
Many breeders artificially inseminate mares and EVA can infect a mare
through semen so the donor stallion must be tested before a breeder
ships semen, too. The Department of Livestock also requires horse
breeders to ship imported semen with a general health certificate and a
negative Coggins test on the stallion, as well as the negative EVA test.

USDA recently announced sign-up dates for the new Livestock Compensation
Program (LCP), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and Crop Disaster
Program (CDP). The three ad hoc disaster programs provide benefits to
farmers and ranchers who suffered losses caused by natural disasters in
recent years.
Eligible ranchers and other livestock producers can apply to receive
benefits under LCP and LIP beginning Sept. 10, 2007. Eligible farmers
can sign up for CDP beginning Oct. 15, 2007, if they suffered quantity
losses to their crops. USDA will announce and conduct CDP sign-up for
quality losses as soon as possible.
LCP compensates livestock producers for feed losses occurring between
Jan.1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, due to a natural disaster. This can
include producers who suffered losses resulting from blizzards that
started in 2006 and continued into January 2007. Livestock producers may
elect to receive compensation for calendar year 2007 grazing season
losses that are attributable to wildfire natural disasters occurring
during the applicable period as determined by the Secretary of
Agriculture. Producers in primary counties declared secretarial disaster
areas or certain counties declared presidential disaster areas between
Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, are eligible as are producers located
in counties contiguous to those counties. Also, producers in a primary
(or contiguous) county that received an Administrator’s Physical Loss
Notice directly associated with a disaster declaration made by President
Bush may also be eligible. Producers incurring a loss in more than one
of the 2005, 2006 or 2007 calendar years must choose only one year for
which they want to apply for benefits.
LIP compensates livestock producers for livestock losses between Jan. 1,
2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, that resulted from natural disasters, including
losses due to blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into January
2007. Producers in primary counties declared secretarial disaster areas
or certain counties declared presidential disaster areas between Jan.1,
2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, are eligible as are producers located in
counties contiguous to those counties. Also, producers in a primary (or
contiguous) county that received an Administrator’s Physical Loss Notice
directly associated with a disaster declaration made by President Bush
may also be eligible. Producers incurring eligible livestock losses in
more than one of the 2005, 2006 or 2007 calendar years must choose only
one year for which they want to apply for benefits.
CDP provides benefits to farmers who suffered quantity and quality
losses to 2005, 2006, or 2007 crops from natural disasters if the crop
was planted before Feb. 28, 2007, or, in the case of prevented
plantings, for crops that would have been planted before Feb. 28, 2007.
Producers who incurred qualifying losses in 2005, 2006 or 2007 must
choose only one year to apply for benefits. Producers may apply for
benefits for losses to multiple commodities as long as the losses
occurred in the same crop year. Only producers who obtained crop
insurance coverage or coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster
Assistance Program for the year of loss will be eligible for CDP
benefits. Producers must have suffered quantity losses in excess of 35
percent to be eligible for CDP.
On May 25, 2007, President George W. Bush signed into law the “U.S.
Troop Readiness, Veteran’s Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq
Accountability Appropriations Act.” The 2007 Act authorizes LCP, LIP and
CDP. It also authorizes funding for the Emergency Forestry Conservation
Reserve Program (EFCRP), Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Dairy
Disaster Assistance Program III (DDAP-III). USDA recently announced
sign-up for EFCRP and the distribution of funds to 18 states under ECP.
USDA will announce and conduct sign-up for DDAP-III as soon as possible.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency is charged with administering the programs.

—Turmoil on Wall Street could
spill over into the cattle market.
The big picture economic status in the U.S.
appeared to be playing a larger role in the beef market last week as
concerns in the stock market looked to threaten commodities as well.
Three straight weeks of volatility on the New York Stock Exchange, which
has erased the equity market’s gains for the year, spilled over into
other areas as investors moved money to safer investments.
That shift in investments led to sharp drops in
the live cattle contract trade last Thursday on the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange (CME) and at the closing bell, August contracts had fallen more
than 172 points to end at $90.40. October was the biggest loser of the
day, with contracts slipping 222 points to finish at $93.70, while
December live contracts gave up 190 points to end the session at $97.
The decline on CME erased most hope for higher
fed cattle trade last week. By mid-day, fed trade was fully developed in
Iowa at $142 and in Nebraska at $90 live and $142-143 dressed basis.
There were also live cattle trading hands in Kansas and Texas in a
narrow range of $90- 90.50, steady to slightly lower than the previous
week’s trade.
There was a bright spot last week in the fed
cattle market as newly formed JBS-Swift announced it was making slow
progress toward its planned second production shift at its Greeley, CO,
plant. The company intends to hire 1,300 more workers by the time it
reaches full production in January 2008. At full capacity, the plant is
capable of processing 5,900 head daily, up from its current daily
average of 3,700. In a report, JBS, the Brazilian-owned parent company,
reported second quarter financial results that illustrate the company
has the financial strength to be a major player in the marketplace. JBS
reported a 25.2 percent increase in net revenue over the same period a
year earlier. Total net profits were reportedly $82.9 million.
Despite the solid performance of JBS, things in
the U.S. domestic market last week were a little less rosy. Continued
difficulty in boosting the cutout had packers slowing chain speeds last
week in an effort to trim available supplies of beef and raise prices.
Last Thursday, the Choice boxed beef cutout was up 5 cents to a mid-day
price of $144.66, while the Select gained a penny to reach $138.85.
Week-to-date harvest through Thursday was estimated at 491,000 head,
lower than the same period a week earlier when the tally reached 497,000
head, and 2006 numbers of 495,000 head.
Market analysts last week cautioned producers to
pay close attention to the big picture during the weeks ahead. The
recent downturn in the market has quickly sapped the economy and last
week, a few economists were beginning to speak about the possibility of
a recession if the market isn’t able to regain its footing after sharp
losses. The possibility of a long-term downward trend or, worse, an
actual recession, could quickly impact the beef market as consumers pull
back on their spending.
“The supply side of the market is pretty well
established right now. We expect on feed numbers and placements to be
below a year ago,” said Livestock Marketing Information Center Director
Jim Robb. “What isn’t well established is the demand side. Consumer
spending trends are notoriously difficult to pinpoint and the big
picture is important. Some of these shocks to the market could be
difficult to absorb because the economy is on much thinner ice now than
it was a year ago. The livestock industry needs to pay attention to the
macro-economic situation in the U.S. right now.”
The impact of last week’s stock market
instability could quickly spill over to other areas of the economy,
scaring consumers enough to cause a cutback in household spending which
accounts for two-thirds of all economic activity in the U.S. Robb said
that could contribute to a sharp drop in the beef cutout and,
subsequently, a decline in fed cattle prices.
“In other countries, consumers tend to cut back
on the amount of protein they purchase when money is tight, turning to
other foods. In the U.S., consumers don’t necessarily cut back on their
protein intake, instead they tend to trade down for lower priced cuts of
meat or cheaper proteins, so things like less expensive cuts of beef,
pork or poultry become the protein of choice and that has a pretty
immediate effect on the more expensive middle meats which causes a drop
in the Choice cutout and the result is a drop in fed cattle prices,”
Robb said. “Now, I’m not saying we’re going to
drop to $80 fed cattle, but it could have an impact.” Robb said the
international market, which has played a key role over the past year in
supporting the market, was also starting to show signs of weakness.
“Exports to Mexico, which had been one of the
only bright spots, are increasingly a concern in the meat complex. The
June numbers continued to show a downward trend in the amount of all
meats being shipped to Mexico,” Robb said. According to USDA data for
the month of June, the latest statistics available showed that beef
exports were down 20 percent from the same period in 2006. Likewise,
pork exports dropped 43 percent and broilers were down 11 percent from
June 2006.
Feeder cattle
Western Video Market (WVM) held their video
auction with a 90,000-head run in Cheyenne, WY, last week and saw strong
sales and good demand. Heavy feeders sold mostly for immediate delivery,
though some sold a few dollars higher with later delivery dates, mostly
in September. The north-central region saw 1,015 head of 850-875 lb.
steers sell for an average of $113.64, with an Aug.-Sept. delivery date
attached. The same region also saw 4,655 head of five-weight steer
calves selling for as much as $134.50, with an average of $127.91 with
an Oct. delivery date.
Ellington Peek of Shasta Livestock and
co-founder of WVM, said the sale demonstrated an extremely strong calf
market, with good sales on the yearlings across the board. Peek also
explained that heat and drought in some areas made a few calves tough to
sell.
“The calf market is just excellent, but they
were a hard sell on the West Coast,” said Peek. “We had probably 92
percent of the calves sell, which is still good demand, but anything for
near delivery wouldn’t sell. It’s so dry in the far western states that
you just can’t believe it. There’s a lot of guys out there that just
flat don’t have any grass to go to,” he explained. Peek also mentioned
that sale attendance was very strong, and that somewhat dry conditions
in other areas didn’t seem to hamper overall demand.
“We had a packed house there in Cheyenne,” he
said. “I think we served close to 400 meals on one day. For most areas
of the West, everything just sold really well. Even the Intermountain
West, where places had been dry, there seemed to be some fair demand,”
said Peek.
Extreme heat and humidity continue to take their
toll on auction markets in other areas of the country, mostly affecting
receipts, but also depressing prices in some cases. The effect of USDA’s
13.1 billion bushel August corn report has mostly been mitigated by the
low movement of cattle due to the high temperatures.
Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock
Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel said last week that cow/calf producers
need to look closely at the market when making decisions about whether
or not to feed their own calves this year. He said high demand for heavy
weight feeder cattle and a cost of gain in the 75 cent per pound range
for steers presents an opportunity to add weight before selling calves,
which remain in high demand due to short supply.
“What this means for stocker and cow/calf
producers is that there is an opportunity to look at putting additional
weight on animals before they go to the feedlot. Rather than selling
calves at weaning or turning over stocker cattle at lighter weights,
producers should evaluate the potential for additional time and gain in
stocker or retained ownership programs,” Peel said. “Obviously, it will
depend on having viable production programs, feed resources and other
management considerations, but the incentive is quite strong. When feed
grain prices are high, the returns to forage-based gains improves.
Responding to this incentive is precisely the mechanism by which the
cattle industry exercises the flexibility we have to utilize less grain
and increase the competitiveness of beef relative to other meats.”
Meanwhile in the cash market at El Reno, OK,
last week, feeder steers were $1-2 higher than during the previous
week’s sale, with feeder heifers $1-3 higher. Demand continues to be
very good as the number of feeders remains low this summer. Steer calves
were steady, while heifer calves were steady to $2 lower. Demand was
moderate for calves. Feeder cattle were in thin to moderate flesh
conditions.
In Bassett, NE, 3,400 head were sold last week
and the bulk of feeders trended steady, with a higher undertone noted on
seven-weight fall calves. The run consisted of average to good quality
fall calves and yearlings. Demand was good on all classes and weights.
Compared with the previous sale, feeder steers
and heifers sold steady in Hub City, SD, last week. Demand was good with
several consignments offered in load lots. Supply was 98 percent over
600 lbs.
In Davenport, WA, last week, 625 head sold, and
compared to the last sale, feeder cattle remained firm in a light test.
Trade was active with good demand, with feeders making up only 25
percent of total receipts. — WLJ

—Funding for Williamson Act dollars faces veto threat.
Williamson Act payments to California counties, which offset tax
decreases on agricultural land, could disappear if Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger carries out his plan to axe the estimated $40 million in
funding during this year’s budget negotiation. His initial budget
contained no money for the program, however, after an uproar, the
California Legislature added funding for the program to its budget
package. However, the program remains in jeopardy; the governor could
still use his line-item veto power to remove the funds.
The Williamson Act is a program, similar to a conservation easement,
which allows California producers to guarantee that their land will
remain in agricultural production for a period of 10 or more years in
exchange for a tax break on property enrolled in the program.
Funding of just $40 million for the Williamson program represents a
small fraction of the state’s enormous $103.7 billion budget. For the
state’s producers however, it represents a substantial savings in terms
of property tax assessments. In all, according to the California
Department of Conservation, 16 million of the state’s 29 million acres
of agricultural land in 54 counties are enrolled in the conservation
program.
But John Gamper, director of taxation and land use at the California
Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF), said administration officials are
indicating that the governor might go ahead with the cut, even if it
means overriding the Legislature with a veto.
Proponents of the Williamson Act argue that it is important to maintain
land protected under the act for conservation and land use reasons. CFBF
said funding the program encourages more responsible planning to protect
“our members right to farm,” according to Gamper.
He said in the most recent poll of landowners who participate in the
Williamson Act program, 85 percent of participating landowners are
“satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” with the benefits brought to them
by enrolling in the Williamson Act.
It is estimated the Williamson Act can save agricultural landowners from
20 to 75 percent in property tax liability each year, or approximately
$150 million statewide, according to Gamper.
“A survey of landowners in Williamson Act contracts concluded that one
in three would not be farming or ranching without the act’s benefits,”
said Gamper.
As an example of how the cuts would impact counties, in 2005, Amador
County received roughly $110,000 in subvention funds from the Williamson
Act, according to county auditor Joe Lowe, who said the county puts the
money into the general fund to cover property tax losses created by
Williamson Act enrollments.
Currently, Amador county has 94,000 acres, a third of the total acreage
in the county, covered by the Williamson Act. The total appraised value
of that property, if assessed at the Proposition 13 value and not with
the tax break from the Williamson Act, is $133 million. This means the
county would receive $1.3 million in property tax revenue from those
areas, according to the county assessor. But, while those lands remain
under the Williamson Act, they are assessed at $42.5 million and the
county collects about $426,000 in property taxes plus the $110,000 in
reimbursement funds from the state, the assessor’s office said. —
John Robinson, WLJ Editor

Handsome Stranger Productions announces the premiere of their
newest production, TV Horse Source. This 30-minute television program
will air on RVD-TV starting in December 2007.
Nancy Stober, president of Handsome Stranger Productions, stated: “We
believe this program will change how people market their horses! In the
past, a buyer would spend countless hours going through publications,
searching Web sites and networking through friends and trainers. Then
after making contact with a seller, the buyer would wait days and weeks
for photos and video, only to find the horse did not meet their needs.
Our program will save both the buyer and seller time and money.” Adding,
“Our viewing audience will include people who want to buy, sell, breed,
learn about, and people who just love looking at good horses.”
The program will showcase horses for sale from every discipline. Each
horse will be featured with video clips or photographs, with breeding,
training, and show or race earnings announced. The price and seller
contact information will appear at the bottom of each page. The program
will have a corresponding Web site where potential buyers can access
more information, photos, and watch up to seven minutes of additional
video. Web site features will include past episodes of the program as
well as horses for sale not featured on the show.
Additional segments will feature a Stallion Show Case, Breeders
Showcase, and information segments from some of the top trainers in the
country. Equine industry news will also be a program highlight.
The individual with one horse, as well as the breeder, will find TV
Horse Source a useful tool in their marketing program.
The program will also be a platform for a national campaign to reduce
the unwanted pet population by asking viewers to spay and neuter their
own pets. Studies show that in two years, this platform could reduce the
5 million dogs and cats euthanized in our animal shelters by up to 1
million a year.
The show will be hosted by the current Miss Rodeo California, Kadee
Coffman.

With temperatures forecast to hit 90 degrees and above, cattle
producers need to take steps to ward off heat stress in their herds, a
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) beef specialist said.
It’s important producers make sure their cattle have plenty of water,
said Terry Mader, beef specialist at UNL’s Haskell Agricultural
Laboratory near Concord, NE.
“Cattle do not handle heat stress as well as humans,” Mader said. “Sunny
days with temperatures above the mid-80s can be stressful, particularly
if there is no wind and humidity is above 50 percent or higher due to a
recent rainfall.” Water is probably the best avenue to dissipate heat,
Mader said. “The cattle don’t have to be thirsty, but as cattle drink
water and pass it through their body, it removes a lot of heat in the
process,” he said. Cattle normally take in about five to six gallons of
water per day. However, when temperatures rise, that amount can double
or even triple. “It’s important to have plenty of available water,” he
said. “When there is competition for water, it creates problems because
the dominant animals will occupy waterer space and not allow other
animals access.” In an emergency, cattle can be sprayed with water to
cool them down. However, once producers do that, they need to continue
spraying. Spraying cattle with water will allow the animal to rapidly
dissipate heat through evaporative cooling processes but this may limit
the animal’s ability to adapt to the heat.
“That’s why it should only be used as an emergency step,” Mader said.
Producers also should have an emergency plan in case water supplies are
low or cut off, Mader added.
In addition, producers should avoid handling cattle when it’s hot and
never after 10 a.m. Cattle body temperatures can rise .5 to 3.5 degrees
during handling.
Also, producers should feed cattle most of the day’s feed several hours
after the day’s peak temperature in the late afternoon or evening. Avoid
filling cattle up with feed late in the morning when added heat
generated by digestion will peak around the hottest time of the day, he
said.
Cattle yards also should be inspected so there aren’t any structures
that restrict airflow. Cutting down vegetation around pens and moving
cattle away from windbreaks can all help. Building earth mounds in pens
also can increase airflow by preventing cattle from bunching together.
For more information about managing heat stress in feedlots, consult UNL
Extension NebGuide G1409, Managing Feedlot Heat Stress, available from
local UNL Extension offices or on the Web.